MileHIxj24

Hi,
The stock fog lights on my 2001 xj were cracked so i bought some 55 watt lights at walart. I cut the connector off the stock light and put it on the new light. When i go to turn them on (using the stock fog light switch) the 15A mini fuse under the hood pops......What am i doing wrong?? I dont know much about electrical stuff so be easy on me. Thanks!!

PocketsEmpty

Too much current for the tiny wires in the XJ's harness. I highly recommend you run your own wiring harness. It's not that hard, just make sure you put an in-line fuse on the positive lead to the battery, and use a relay.

MileHIxj24

Thanks for the quick response! The lights came with a wiring harness and inline 15A fuse but no relay. The stock wires seem to be the same size as the new wiring harness so i am still curious why it doesn't work. I would like to keep the stock switch. Thanks

prcherokee

Besides being crack, did they work.
Maybe it has nothing to do with your installation,check the wiring.

mike albo

they should be running a 30 amp relay along with a 30 amp fuse,i have 6inch KCs in place of my stock driving lights with 55watt bulbs,running all the stock wireing and stuff no problems at all

MileHIxj24

The old ones always worked until they cracked and got exposed to the elements. The new ones worked the first time i tested them for about a minute. Now every time i hit the switch it blows the fuse.

mike albo

make sure there is no exsposed wireing touching any metal first off,then check the wattage of the stock bulbs,i know for a fact 55watt bulbs will need a 30amp fuse

mike albo

take your time,un plug one light see what happens,does it stay on?

RTorrez1

Sounds like you have a short somewhere in the system. That would cause it to keep popping fuses. If you don't want to try to hunt down the short you can just rewire it with a 30 amp relay as others have mentioned. Running a new wire harness would be a lot easier then trying to find the short in the old one.

Ineedabeer

I agree with what everyone else is writing. Rewire it so that the appropriate fuse can be used. Do NOT just pop a 30 amp fuse in the factory location. The wire may be weak somewhere and instead of blowing the fuse, you can heat up the wire and cause a fire. Good luck.

mike albo

yes to both the last statements,its not hard to do,there is a write up on here somewhere showing how to do it

prcherokee

X2
The original is 55w,which is a 10 amp load (for 2).

MileHIxj24

Thanks guys... I will try the new wiring harness tomorrow

prcherokee

Maybe there is a pinch wire, when you mounted the lights.
Take them out, and turn them on and see what happens

rnmcguire

You have a short to ground somewhere. The factory harness will support 55W lights. As stated before, check your wiring.